The history of braces
Misaligned teeth have been an issue affecting people for a long time. The issue was not just the appearance of the smile, but the complications that can arise from misaligned teeth as well. Therefore, medicine and dentistry worked towards a long-time aspiration to readjust misaligned teeth.
Teeth straightening dates back to ancient times according to some historians, as both Hippocrates and Aristotle described methods of straightening teeth. In ancient times, catgut has possessed an identical role to the orthodontic wires of today. Orthodontics started to really advance in the 1700s, when a French dentist introduced a device capable of expanding the palate. This device was a U-shaped piece of metal fitted behind the teeth. Another French dentist a few years later has also released a book, where a chapter was dedicated to detailing methods of teeth straightening. Orthodontics further developed in the 19th Century, when a dentist called Delabarre in 1819 introduced the orthodontic wire known in today’s orthodontics as well. Another important milestone in the history of orthodontics was the introduction of a significant classification system of malocclusions by the dentist Edward Angle. This system is still in use today.
What kind of conditions are braces used for?
If you suspect you have any of these conditions, you might require an orthodontic treatment. You can get braces in Northern Ireland to assist you in straightening your teeth. Braces are used to treat a variety of teeth misalignment conditions, such as overbites, underbites, crossbites, malocclusions, crooked teeth, crowded teeth or gaps between teeth. The most convenient way to self-check for these conditions is to look in the mirror with a source of light, and examine the position of your teeth. If they appear to be asymmetric contact your dentist to find out about treatment options that can be suitable for you. You can get braces even if you don’t have an orthodontic condition, but just would like to improve the appearance of your smile.
What type of braces are available?
Multiple types of braces are available, all indicated for different conditions. A dentist offers a wide variety of braces in Northern Ireland. If you have a milder orthodontic condition, you may want to consider getting the invisible aligners from Six Month Smiles. These braces are not really braces, but plastic aligners made out of a transparent material. A series of aligners are manufactured over the course of the treatment, which fit on your teeth and can get visible results from 6-10 months.
The only drawback of this treatment is that it has some limitations when it comes to severe cases of orthodontic conditions. If this is your situation, you can get the traditional form of braces with wires and brackets. However, the improvement in Six Month Smiles’ braces is that both the brackets and the wire are made out of tooth coloured and transparent materials, which makes them much less noticeable than the usual metal braces. You will also not have a metallic taste. If you require treatments for both your lower and upper arch and the condition of the two arches differs, you can get an invisible aligner to one of them, and clear braces on the other one.